Novelist and journalist Dave Hill

December 10, 2006

On 20th and 21st December Bow magistrates court will hear its proprietor's appeal against January's closure of the Palace Pavilion nightclub, erstwhile magnet for murderers, dealers and persons quite unable to keep their hands from their car horns or refrain from shooting their mouths off in the street at four o'clock in the morning. Last week I wrote a letter setting out over two pages how greatly things have improved round my way since the club ceased operating and why if it began to do business again all the violence, fear and disorder would return. In the short time available I obtained around fifty signatures from fellow residents, though this looks small when compared with the 250-odd gathered on a petition by one of my Muslim neighbours from fellow-worshippers at the local mosque. The hope is that at least one signatory will be prepared to speak at the hearing too, although it seems that several of its leading lights are away on Haaj business just now. It would be good if somebody stepped forward. A black lady congregant at St James's church (which stands next door to the club) has volunteered to speak and the hope is that our case will be collectively made by persons representing as large as possible a part of our neighbourhood's ethnic, religious and cultural spectrum. What I can say for now is that goodwill and co-operation have been in generous supply. Now it's over to the lawyers for a while.

[The photo is of a group called the Hackney Street Pastors. Their website is here and here's a piece about from The Times, published last year.]